Universal joint.



C. W. SPICER.

UNlVBRSAL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED MAI/6,1913.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

IIHIIIIIIHIIIIIIHIH im I CLARENCE SPICER, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW' JERSEY.

UNIVERSAL OIN T.

Specification of Letters'latent.

Application filed May 6, 1913. Serial N o. 765,826.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. SPICER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Plaineld, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in incased universal joints, and comprises an improved casing construction by means of which the working parts of such joint may be completely inclosed Aand the entry of dirt. dust, water, ice, etc., may be prevented and lubricant may be retaine v The objects of my invention are to provide a simple, compact and .easily constructed incased universal joint adapted to trans- .mit motion between members the axes of -the line --m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation and partial section through one of the horns and the corresponding bearing bushing, the journal pin being shown in elevation.

In the drawings, numeral 1 designates one of the two end members of the universal joint, .and numeral 2 the other member of said joint, said member 2 comprising a hub portion 3 withinwhich is an axial polygonal hole within which works a correspondingly shaped member 4; the structure 3-4 constituting a well known slip joint.

5 (Fig. 1) designates the trunnion block or intermediate member of the universal joint, this trunnion block having cylindrical journal pins 6 6 fitting within bushings 7 themselves fitting within recesses formed in horns 8 oend member 1 and horns 9 of end member 2; these bushings being provided with segmental rings 10 fitting within corresponding grooves of the horns 8, whereby the bushings are prevented from working out of the recesses of said horns. The journal pins 6 are free to oscillate in the bushings 7 and also to move axially therein.

The general 'construction of this universal joint is that of my Patent No. 826,448 in that bushings are provided between the 2 of the joint may move a considerable distance, laterally, with respect to member 1; and vice versa; and such play is,'in fact, provided, that the shouldersj11 do not come in Contact with the horns 8 and 9 when the joint is used within the limits of lateral motion of members. 1 and 2 for which it is designed. This capacity for a lateral, as distinguished from an angular, movement of the one end member of the universal joint with respect to the other-end member thereof, and with respect to the trunnion block, adapts the universal joint for the transmission of motion between rotating vmembers the axes of which do not intersect. In the transmission of motion between such members, not only is there the usual rocking motion or oscillation between the end members 1 and 2 and the trunnion block 5, but

also there is a back and forth lateral motionof each end member, 1 and 2, with res ect above explained, bythe play provided between the shoulders 11 and 12.

To accommodate the relative lateral mo- Patented Mar. 16, 1915.l

vto the trunnion block 5, permitted as just tion of members 1 and 2, the main casing member, 13, secured to the end member l of the joint as shown, is provided with 'a bearing surface, 14, parallel to the plane of rotation of Said member 1, and on the hub 3 of end member 2 is mounted a -sleeve 15 carrying a packing rin 16 of elastic material, such as braided aX, which packing ring bears against the 'surface 14 of the casing member 13 and is pressed against such surface by a suitable spring 17 located iit on hub portion 3, free angular motionofI member 2 with reference to member 1 is permitted within reasonable limits; the universal joint being, therefore, adapted both for thetransinission of motion between'ilnembers the axes of which do not intersect, and for the transmission of motion between members the axes of which are angiilarly related whether such axes intersect or not.

Oil channels 11 are provided in the journal pins 6 for the distribution of lubricant over the wearin surfaces of. the journal pins and bearing ushin In a com anion appiiaton for Letters Patent Sr. o. 765,825, now VPatent No. 1,095,430, dated May 5, 1914, I have illustrated and described another universal joint adapted for the transmission of motion between rotating mcmbers'the axes of which do not intersect, and another form of inclosure for such joints, which inclosure is closin said universal joint and secured to one o the members thereof, and having a portion turned toward the' axis of rotation, the face of such portion being parallel to the plane 'of rotation of such casing member,

j and having in it an opening through which another member of such universal joint projects, aiid closing means for such opening carried by such other member of the universal joint and comprising aching bearing against the sai'd face of sai casin member, and means tending to force sai packing against the said face of said casing member.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE W. SPICER. lWitnesses:

JOHN Les ROLAND Davis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forve cent: each, by addressing the Uommlnloner of Patents. Washington, D. 0J 

